The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-03-12
MAKING A SILK Purse OUT OF A
Sow's FAR.

MAhlNG "A O1LAA Oh9G W VI a
Sow's EAR.
Among the most despised suo~
sta1ce that Uttered the ground for
many thouean square miles was
the pine straw or needles which fell
from the pine trees in the eastern
part of this State, and in fact, the
whole coast region of the Southern
States, from Virginia to Louisiana.
There was an annual fall Of these
leaves which laid upon the gronRd
to the depth of several inches. and
which would have increased in
depth indefinitely but for the an.
nual freAwhich were started for the
purpose of disposing of them to
make room,for a,,freshgrowth Of R1 !
grass in tse s pralg and carl
mer, scant: source of existence to
the piney woods sheep and cattle,
No use was found for it except to
litter stalls and pens, and aid in
giving body to soWmewhat unrelia-
Bile compost heaps. Without fire, the
pine straw was as indestruetible as
the nut grass, the great pest of the
sandhill gardenders; and until with
in a few years, that substance had
aa little prospect of utility as the
thistle down which the autumn
winds scatter to the air.
Now there is change; and the
despised pine straw has proved to
be valuable textile fabric, conver-
tible into beautiful article ofhouse-
hold use; unlike all other articles
for similar purpose, healthful in its
manufacture, and a creator Of health
in its application.
Some years ago attention was
drawn to the possibility of conver-
ting pine straw to some useful pur-
pose; at first by crushing it and
bringing into shape for filling mat
tresses, stufing horse collars, &c.
A fair degree of success attended the
effort, and a stimulus was given to
farther efforts ofingenuity, and at
length machinery was invented
which converted the inhexible
needles into plant >fbre, submis-
sive to the mandates of the loom,
susceptible of the adornments oi
dy e st,lffs, and convertible with ar
ticles both useful and ornamental.
The Acme Company at Whining.
ton is the only company we know Of
engaged in the manufacture. We
had the pleasure yesterday ofmeet-
ing Mr.. W. R. French who has in.
troduced the products of the factory
to this market He brought speci.
mems the carpeting, which is really
,befasasattss;f,lsl pa s;fs Yten e-natg tgral.-ooaeSe-
ness of the material ls1eonsi dsred
something like the cocoa mating
but softer, more flexible and moft
elastic, while at the same time it il
varied with bright colors in tasteful
patterns. Housekeepers will prize
this article we know.
The unwoven fibre is admirably
adopted to filing mattresses, pillows
lounges, &C., soft, pleasant and elias
tic, exhaling a.pleasant balsamic
odor greatly conducive to health
It is moreYer absolutely hostile t.
the presence ofinsects, quality,,tha
every one will appreciate.
The oil obtained from the straw
in the process of conversion hal
valuable medicinal properties, anC
is coming into use.
Mr.. James P. Sawyer has taker
the agency Tor the sale of the prod
uct of the Acme Company in thiI
market. We hope to see large ust
made of it here. AS novel anC
valuable product of North Carolina
we take pleasure in saying as much
as we have done on the subject.